Chariot  +  237638 Mon, 19 Jun 06 10:17 AM The most challenging thing about being in the peace corps is finding a way to fit into the community. I wonder if it is ok to use an infinitive following "is". The most challenging thing about being in the peace corps is to find a way to fit into the community. When are infinitives are used after be and when are present participles used? Thank you for your help. Chariot Joined on Mon, Apr 24 2006 Full Member 345

	Marius Hancu  +  237715 Mon, 19 Jun 06 01:26 PM IMO, both work in general, but not in this context. I think the most challenging thing forces the use of gerund (as a noun). Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673 Nouns, Gerunds

	Cool Breeze  +  237718 Mon, 19 Jun 06 01:42 PM  Chariot wrote: The most challenging thing about being in the peace corps is finding a way to fit into the community. I wonder if it is ok to use an infinitive following "is". The most challenging thing about being in the peace corps is to find a way to fit into the community. When are infinitives are used after be and when are present participles used? Thank you for your help. It is always perfectly all right to  use an infinitive after the verb to be instead of the gerund. Another example: Seeing is believing. To see is to believe. Cheers CB Cool Breeze Joined on Fri, Apr 7 2006 Senior Member 3,979 "I hope you'll all live to be 150 years old - and the last voice you hear is mine!" Frank Sinatra on stage in Oslo, Norway, 28 September 1991 Verbs, Gerunds